CVE-2017-0707 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the HTC led driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36088467.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0707 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the HTC LED driver component of the Android kernel. This issue resides in the kernel-level implementation of device drivers responsible for managing LED hardware functionality on HTC Android devices. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege handling mechanisms within the kernel driver code that governs LED control operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to escalate their privileges from regular user-level processes to kernel-level operations, thereby gaining complete control over the device's hardware and software environment. The flaw specifically manifests when the LED driver fails to properly validate parameters passed during device ioctls or system calls, allowing malicious code to manipulate kernel memory structures and execute arbitrary code with the highest possible privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access controls. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious system calls or ioctl commands that target the LED driver interface, exploiting the lack of proper privilege checks during parameter processing. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to bypass normal security boundaries that separate user space from kernel space, enabling them to manipulate kernel memory, modify system calls, or inject malicious code directly into the kernel address space. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where all system security mechanisms are rendered ineffective. The vulnerability also maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1543, which addresses persistence mechanisms through kernel-level modifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0707 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level access, they can manipulate all system resources including file systems, network interfaces, and hardware components. The vulnerability affects all Android devices running kernel versions that include the affected HTC LED driver implementation, making it particularly widespread across the Android ecosystem. Devices that rely heavily on LED notifications and hardware integration features are at heightened risk, as these components often require elevated privileges to function correctly. The exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to install persistent backdoors, monitor system activities, steal sensitive data, or even brick devices through kernel-level modifications. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability was particularly concerning due to its exploitation potential in the context of zero-day attacks targeting mobile devices, where the kernel-level access provides attackers with unprecedented control over device operations and user data protection mechanisms. Organizations and users must implement immediate mitigations including kernel updates, driver patching, and security configuration hardening to protect against exploitation attempts.